Business Improvement District for Taunton vote delayed

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Plans to create a business improvement district (BID) in Somerset's county town have been delayed after disruption caused by the coronavirus.

The BID was designed to give businesses operating within Taunton town centre the ability to fund initiatives to increase footfall through a small levy on each company or premises.

Ballots had been sent out to businesses ahead of the voting period which began on March 2.

But following the government's advice about which businesses could continue operating during the pandemic, the ballot has now been put on hold.

The BID working group, which put the proposals forward, said it had been "actively seeking guidance" from central government in light of the recent emergency legislation, which came into force halfway through the BID voting period.

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James Hassett, returning officer and chief executive at Somerset West and Taunton Council, confirmed on Monday (March 30) that the ballot would be suspended in light of the fact that many businesses within the BID area had not been able to vote due to the ongoing disruption.

BID working group chairman Colin Barrell said plans for the future of the BID " remain uncertain".

He said: "There are no winners with this decision. It is a reflection of the desperate times we are all currently experiencing.

A number of store units in Taunton town centre have been empty for a long period of time (Image: Somerset Live)

"In the past week, it has become increasingly obvious that if we had secured a mandate for the BID it would have been extremely difficult to set up the BID company and expect businesses to pay the levy to fund the programme.

"I would like to thank everyone involved for their incredible hard work over recent months and for all who supported this scheme for Taunton.

"I hope when we come through this crisis, as a business community, we can all work together to help Taunton to recover, look after each other and serve our customers and community once again."

The No to Taunton BID campaign, which described the proposed levy as "an unnecessary stealth tax on hard-working businesses", has welcomed the suspension.

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